Eebn ransomware (Removal Instructions) - Bonus: Decryption Steps
Eebn virus Removal Guide
What is Eebn ransomware?
Eebn ransomware is the threat coming from a family of dangerous threats
The virus is asking for money in the text file added on the machine
Eebn file virus scan encrypts your files silently without causing any symptoms or issues. In most cases, the only way you'll know that the virus is present is when you see the ransom note. The virus can also mask the encryption process, making it appear as though your computer is simply running slowly due to fake program updates or Windows upgrade alerts.
Those pop-ups are not legitimate, and more tech-savvy people can indicate that something is wrong, but the threat spreads using stealthy methods and abuses the fact that people are gullible and do not tend to pay attention to some of the details. The distribution ways include pirating platforms, cheats for games, or software cracks, so they can be unnoticeable.
Eebn ransomware is a powerful file-locking virus that can cause major damage to a computer system. The virus uses strong encryption algorithms[1] to lock files and demand payment from the victim. This makes it one of the most dangerous types of ransomware, as it can involve money demands and double extortion. Experts[2] note that the virus also belongs to a major ransomware family, which has been known since 2018. This means that it is controlled by hackers and cybercriminals.
The people behind this scheme are only interested in money; they don't care about what you've lost or what you can give them. Eebn ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts your files and holds them hostage until you pay a ransom to get the decryption key. This ransomware is asking for $980 right away after the _readme.txt appears on the desktop and in other folders with encoded files.
Name | Eebn file virus |
---|---|
Type | Ransomware, file locker |
File marker | .eebn |
Family | Djvu ransomware |
Distribution | Threat is spreading using cracked software, game cheatcodes, other malware, pirating platforms |
Ransom amount | $980/ $490 |
Ransom note | _readme.txt |
Contact details | support@bestyourmail.ch, datarestorehelp@airmail.cc |
Removal | Threats should be removed using anti-malware tools |
Repair | Run FortectIntego to clear virus damage and leftovers |
Should I pay?
Unfortunately, paying the demanded ransom does not guarantee that access to your files will be restored. In many cases, victims who have paid the ransom never receive the decryption key needed to unlock their files. Even if you do receive the key, there is no guarantee that it will work. In some cases, ransomware attackers have simply taken the money and run, leaving victims with no way to decrypt their files.
If your devices are infected with Eebn ransomware, your best course of action is to try to restore your files from a backup, if you have one. If you don't have a backup, you may be out of luck. There are some free tools that can sometimes decrypt files encrypted by certain types of ransomware, but there is no guarantee.
Even if you are the victim of a ransomware attack, do not contact your attackers. You cannot be sure they will provide decryption for the Eebn file virus, and paying the demanded ransom or contacting them only encourages them more. Instead, focus on removing the virus.
Removing the active infection
To remove the Eebn file virus, you will need to use a powerful anti-malware program. Run a scan with the program and let it detect[3] and delete all malicious files from your system. Once the virus is gone, you can try using data recovery software to see if any of your files can be recovered. Keep in mind, however, that not all files may be recoverable.
Eebn ransomware virus is a serious threat, and using anti-malware tools can help stop the active threat once and for all, so the cryptovirus cannot run on the machine and cause harm further. A running tool like SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes finds and blocks all threats related to the ransomware and additionally installed viruses.
There are a few things you can do to protect yourself from becoming infected with ransomware in the first place. First, make sure that you have a good antivirus program installed and that it is up to date. Second, be careful about opening email attachments or clicking on links in emails, even if they come from a trusted source.
Your machine can get affected by the Eebn ransomware virus when you do not pay enough attention to those details like red flags on emails or additional files in pirating packages, or the general security of sites you constantly visit. Keep tools like this updated, so infection can be blocked before launched.
The ransomware encodes pieces and marks them using unique appendix
Repair the system
Once a computer is infected with malware, its system is changed to operate differently. For example, an infection can alter the Windows registry database, damage vital bootup and other sections, delete or corrupt DLL files, etc. Once a system file is damaged by malware, antivirus software is not capable of doing anything about it, leaving it just the way it is. Consequently, users might experience performance, stability, and usability issues, to the point where a full Windows reinstall is required.
Therefore, we highly recommend using a one-of-a-kind, patented technology of FortectIntego repair. Not only can it fix virus damage after the infection, but it is also capable of removing malware that has already broken into the system thanks to several engines used by the program. Besides, the application is also capable of fixing various Windows-related issues that are not caused by malware infections, for example, Blue Screen errors, freezes, registry errors, damaged DLLs, etc.
- Download the application by clicking on the link above
- Click on the ReimageRepair.exe
- If User Account Control (UAC) shows up, select Yes
- Press Install and wait till the program finishes the installation process
- The analysis of your machine will begin immediately
- Once complete, check the results – they will be listed in the Summary
- You can now click on each of the issues and fix them manually
- If you see many problems that you find difficult to fix, we recommend you purchase the license and fix them automatically.
Ways to recover files
If you are infected with this ransomware, do not contact the criminals. They may demand a ransom in Bitcoin, but there is no guarantee that they will provide the decryption key even if you pay. Try to restore your files from a backup if possible. If you don't have a backup, you may be able to use file recovery software to recover some of your files.
The virus creators are not giving up the key without being compensated first with Bitcoin worth $980. They're even cutting it in half within 72 hours to convince people this option can be a great one for them! These criminals behind these threats will use scare tactics to claim that Eebn ransomware is affecting files, but once you pay, these files will get recovered.
This is a type of ransomware that can't establish an insecure connection to its C&C server before starting the encryption process. The key for each victim is created, and a unique ID is associated with the version – offline keys or with each affected computer – online IDs.
Eebn file virus is one of the versions of the oldest and most effective ransomware families in existence -DJVU. These versions have been around for years without any changes to their code or appearance, making them extremely hard to decipher with current technology.
Eebn file virus is an update to other variants, and it uses online keys, but you can still attempt decryption with available options from malware researchers if desired! The tool works best for particular versions, and checking this should not take too long.
If your computer got infected with one of the Djvu variants, you should try using Emsisoft decryptor for Djvu/STOP. It is important to mention that this tool will not work for everyone – it only works if data was locked with an offline ID due to malware failing to communicate with its remote servers.
Even if your case meets this condition, somebody from the victims has to pay criminals, retrieve an offline key, and then share it with security researchers at Emsisoft. As a result, you might not be able to restore the encrypted files immediately. Thus, if the decryptor says your data was locked with an offline ID but cannot be recovered currently, you should try later. You also need to upload a set of files – one encrypted and a healthy one to the company's servers before you proceed.
- Download the app from the official Emsisoft website.
- After pressing Download button, a small pop-up at the bottom, titled decrypt_STOPDjvu.exe should show up – click it.
- If User Account Control (UAC) message shows up, press Yes.
- Agree to License Terms by pressing Yes.
- After Disclaimer shows up, press OK.
- The tool should automatically populate the affected folders, although you can also do it by pressing Add folder at the bottom.
- Press Decrypt.
From here, there are three available outcomes:
- “Decrypted!” will be shown under files that were decrypted successfully – they are now usable again.
- “Error: Unable to decrypt file with ID:” means that the keys for this version of the virus have not yet been retrieved, so you should try later.
- “This ID appears to be an online ID, decryption is impossible” – you are unable to decrypt files with this tool.
Getting rid of Eebn virus. Follow these steps
Restore Windows "hosts" file to its original state
Some ransomware might modify Windows hosts file in order to prevent users from accessing certain websites online. For example, Djvu ransomware variants add dozens of entries containing URLs of security-related websites, such as 2-spyware.com. Each of the entries means that users will not be able to access the listed web addresses and will receive an error instead.
Here's an example of “hosts” file entries that were injected by ransomware:
In order to restore your ability to access all websites without restrictions, you should either delete the file (Windows will automatically recreate it) or remove all the malware-created entries. If you have never touched the “hosts” file before, you should simply delete it by marking it and pressing Shift + Del on your keyboard. For that, navigate to the following location:
C:\\Windows\\System32\\drivers\\etc\\
Restore files using data recovery software
Since many users do not prepare proper data backups prior to being attacked by ransomware, they might often lose access to their files permanently. Paying criminals is also very risky, as they might not fulfill the promises and never send back the required decryption tool.
While this might sound terrible, not all is lost – data recovery software might be able to help you in some situations (it highly depends on the encryption algorithm used, whether ransomware managed to complete the programmed tasks, etc.). Since there are thousands of different ransomware strains, it is immediately impossible to tell whether third-party software will work for you.
Therefore, we suggest trying regardless of which ransomware attacked your computer. Before you begin, several pointers are important while dealing with this situation:
- Since the encrypted data on your computer might permanently be damaged by security or data recovery software, you should first make backups of it – use a USB flash drive or another storage.
- Only attempt to recover your files using this method after you perform a scan with anti-malware software.
Install data recovery software
- Download Data Recovery Pro.
- Double-click the installer to launch it.
- Follow on-screen instructions to install the software.
- As soon as you press Finish, you can use the app.
- Select Everything or pick individual folders where you want the files to be recovered from.
- Press Next.
- At the bottom, enable Deep scan and pick which Disks you want to be scanned.
- Press Scan and wait till it is complete.
- You can now pick which folders/files to recover – don't forget you also have the option to search by the file name!
- Press Recover to retrieve your files.
Create data backups to avoid file loss in the future
One of the many countermeasures for home users against ransomware is data backups. Even if your Windows get corrupted, you can reinstall everything from scratch and retrieve files from backups with minimal losses overall. Most importantly, you would not have to pay cybercriminals and risk your money as well.
Therefore, if you have already dealt with a ransomware attack, we strongly advise you to prepare backups for future use. There are two options available to you:
- Backup on a physical external drive, such as a USB flash drive or external HDD.
- Use cloud storage services.
The first method is not that convenient, however, as backups need to constantly be updated manually – although it is very reliable. Therefore, we highly advise choosing cloud storage instead – it is easy to set up and efficient to sustain. The problem with it is that storage space is limited unless you want to pay for the subscription.
Using Microsoft OneDrive
OneDrive is a built-in tool that comes with every modern Windows version. By default, you get 5 GB of storage that you can use for free. You can increase that storage space, but for a price. Here's how to setup backups for OneDrive:
- Click on the OneDrive icon within your system tray.
- Select Help & Settings > Settings.
- If you don't see your email under the Account tab, you should click Add an account and proceed with the on-screen instructions to set yourself up.
- Once done, move to the Backup tab and click Manage backup.
- Select Desktop, Documents, and Pictures, or a combination of whichever folders you want to backup.
- Press Start backup.
After this, all the files that are imported into the above-mentioned folders will be automatically backed for you. If you want to add other folders or files, you have to do that manually. For that, open File Explorer by pressing Win + E on your keyboard, and then click on the OneDrive icon. You should drag and drop folders you want to backup (or you can use Copy/Paste as well).
Using Google Drive
Google Drive is another great solution for free backups. The good news is that you get as much as 15GB for free by choosing this storage. There are also paid versions available, with significantly more storage to choose from.
You can access Google Drive via the web browser or use a desktop app you can download on the official website. If you want your files to be synced automatically, you will have to download the app, however.
- Download the Google Drive app installer and click on it.
- Wait a few seconds for it to be installed.
- Now click the arrow within your system tray – you should see Google Drive icon there, click it once.
- Click Get Started.
- Enter all the required information – your email/phone, and password.
- Now pick what you want to sync and backup. You can click on Choose Folder to add additional folders to the list.
- Once done, pick Next.
- Now you can select to sync items to be visible on your computer.
- Finally, press Start and wait till the sync is complete. Your files are now being backed up.
Report the incident to your local authorities
Ransomware is a huge business that is highly illegal, and authorities are very involved in catching malware operators. To have increased chances of identifying the culprits, the agencies need information. Therefore, by reporting the crime, you could help with stopping the cybercriminal activities and catching the threat actors. Make sure you include all the possible details, including how did you notice the attack, when it happened, etc. Additionally, providing documents such as ransom notes, examples of encrypted files, or malware executables would also be beneficial.
Law enforcement agencies typically deal with online fraud and cybercrime, although it depends on where you live. Here is the list of local authority groups that handle incidents like ransomware attacks, sorted by country:
- USA – Internet Crime Complaint Center IC3
- United Kingdom – ActionFraud
- Canada – Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
- Australia – ScamWatch
- New Zealand – ConsumerProtection
- Germany – Polizei
- France – Ministère de l'Intérieur
If your country is not listed above, you should contact the local police department or communications center.
Manual removal using Safe Mode
Important! →
Manual removal guide might be too complicated for regular computer users. It requires advanced IT knowledge to be performed correctly (if vital system files are removed or damaged, it might result in full Windows compromise), and it also might take hours to complete. Therefore, we highly advise using the automatic method provided above instead.
Step 1. Access Safe Mode with Networking
Manual malware removal should be best performed in the Safe Mode environment.
Windows 7 / Vista / XP
- Click Start > Shutdown > Restart > OK.
- When your computer becomes active, start pressing F8 button (if that does not work, try F2, F12, Del, etc. – it all depends on your motherboard model) multiple times until you see the Advanced Boot Options window.
- Select Safe Mode with Networking from the list.
Windows 10 / Windows 8
- Right-click on Start button and select Settings.
- Scroll down to pick Update & Security.
- On the left side of the window, pick Recovery.
- Now scroll down to find Advanced Startup section.
- Click Restart now.
- Select Troubleshoot.
- Go to Advanced options.
- Select Startup Settings.
- Press Restart.
- Now press 5 or click 5) Enable Safe Mode with Networking.
Step 2. Shut down suspicious processes
Windows Task Manager is a useful tool that shows all the processes running in the background. If malware is running a process, you need to shut it down:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
- Click on More details.
- Scroll down to Background processes section, and look for anything suspicious.
- Right-click and select Open file location.
- Go back to the process, right-click and pick End Task.
- Delete the contents of the malicious folder.
Step 3. Check program Startup
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
- Go to Startup tab.
- Right-click on the suspicious program and pick Disable.
Step 4. Delete virus files
Malware-related files can be found in various places within your computer. Here are instructions that could help you find them:
- Type in Disk Cleanup in Windows search and press Enter.
- Select the drive you want to clean (C: is your main drive by default and is likely to be the one that has malicious files in).
- Scroll through the Files to delete list and select the following:
Temporary Internet Files
Downloads
Recycle Bin
Temporary files - Pick Clean up system files.
- You can also look for other malicious files hidden in the following folders (type these entries in Windows Search and press Enter):
%AppData%
%LocalAppData%
%ProgramData%
%WinDir%
After you are finished, reboot the PC in normal mode.
Finally, you should always think about the protection of crypto-ransomwares. In order to protect your computer from Eebn and other ransomwares, use a reputable anti-spyware, such as FortectIntego, SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes
How to prevent from getting ransomware
Stream videos without limitations, no matter where you are
There are multiple parties that could find out almost anything about you by checking your online activity. While this is highly unlikely, advertisers and tech companies are constantly tracking you online. The first step to privacy should be a secure browser that focuses on tracker reduction to a minimum.
Even if you employ a secure browser, you will not be able to access websites that are restricted due to local government laws or other reasons. In other words, you may not be able to stream Disney+ or US-based Netflix in some countries. To bypass these restrictions, you can employ a powerful Private Internet Access VPN, which provides dedicated servers for torrenting and streaming, not slowing you down in the process.
Data backups are important – recover your lost files
Ransomware is one of the biggest threats to personal data. Once it is executed on a machine, it launches a sophisticated encryption algorithm that locks all your files, although it does not destroy them. The most common misconception is that anti-malware software can return files to their previous states. This is not true, however, and data remains locked after the malicious payload is deleted.
While regular data backups are the only secure method to recover your files after a ransomware attack, tools such as Data Recovery Pro can also be effective and restore at least some of your lost data.
- ^ Encryption. Wikipedia. The free encyclopedia.
- ^ Avirus. Avirus. Spyware removal.
- ^ Virus sample detection. Virustotal. Online malware scanner.